Parent/Guardian Frequently Asked Questions

As a parent, what can I ask?

The College is happy to provide general information to parents. Parents who would like to discuss their child's academic progress should contact the Dean of Studies Office at 212/854-2024, and should be prepared to involve their child in a group conversation with the appropriate advisor. Consent and involvement of the student is usually required under College policy and the law.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) generally protects student access to her education records and protects those records from disclosure without the student's consent. Similarly, students' medical and health information is accessible to them and typically prohibited from disclosure because of applicable patient confidentiality and disclosure laws in New York state. For more information, see Barnard's FERPA policy.

Please note that the College may call parents or other designated emergency contacts in the event of a health or safety emergency.

It depends on what you are worried about. If you have an academic concern, call the Dean's Office at 212/854-2024. If you have a health or mental health concern, you should call Primary Care Health Service at 212/854-2091. If you think your student's safety is an issue and there is an emergency situation, you should call Barnard Public Safety at 212/854-6666, and they can either respond directly or help direct your call.

Barnard's Department of Public Safety is dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment conducive to learning for students, faculty, staff, and visitors on the Barnard College campus. In addition to providing security, fire safety and emergency management on campus, senior administrators of the Department conduct crime awareness seminars and personally assist students requiring police or other assistance. Visit Barnard Public Safety for more information.

Students can help to ensure their own safety by following these recommended tips for navigating the city:

Always be alert and aware of your surroundings. Don’t be distracted by talking on a cell phone or texting while traveling.

Plan your route ahead of time.

Keep track of valuables, do not leave laptops unattended, and lock your door.

Have your money and/or MetroCard readily available for use, so that you do not have to rummage through your bag or pockets.

Travel in a group, and do not leave anyone behind. Always tell someone where you are going and when you are expected back. When meeting someone for the first time, go with a friend and meet in a public place.

Exercise caution when walking about, especially late at night. Use well-populated, well-lit streets. Know where you are and how to get there.

When using the subway, do not ride in the last car. Look for the white and black “zebra board” above the platform, which shows the location of the conductor’s car. Do not expose expensive items while in transit.

Think twice before giving out your phone number, address, or email address to people you have recently met. Be cautious about giving out your birth date, social security number, or other information that can be used for identity theft.

If you are lost or without means to return to campus, call Barnard's Public Safety at (212) 854-3362 and we will assist you. Make sure you save the phone number in your phone directory.

If you need help, do not be afraid to ask for it. As residents of New York City, we live in one of the safest cities in the world. Using these safety tips will enhance your safety wherever you travel.

In addition, students who present college I.D.'s may ride on a Columbia University evening shuttle bus that makes stops between 108th and 125th Streets. The bus runs from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., seven days a week. You student can call x42796 for schedule information.

Barnard College also provides motorized transportation by a uniformed Public Safety Officer between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m., seven days a week. The service operates between the main gate of the College and the off-campus residence halls, including Cathedral Gardens and the College Residence at 110th Street. Your student can call Public Safety at x43362 for schedule information.

Visit the page on Mail Services for detailed information on how to send packages to students.

The following address format should be used for student mail. The word “Box” should not be used in the address, and mail should never be sent to a student’s dormitory address.

Student’s Full NameNNNN AltschulNew York, NY 10027-XXXX

In the above example, NNNN represents your 4-digit mailbox number and 10027-XXXX represents a zip+4 number assigned by the USPS for your mailbox.It is important to use your student's full 9-digit zip code at all times.

Students retrieve their mailbox number, combination and address via the my.barnard.edu portal. There they will also find information about Mail Services during the summer break and academic year.

The best place to find information on the College's academic year, holidays and breaks is the Academic Calendar. All our key dates can be easily found in one convenient place.

By accepting admission to Barnard and enrolling in classes, students accept responsibility for paying all debts for which they are liable, including tuition and fees. We assume that our students understand and will honor this financial obligation. For complete information on all aspects of our financial aid resources and policies, visit Barnard Financial Aid.

While we also understand that while payment is the responsibility of the student, parents’ and guardians’ often provide financial support. The Bursar's Office is responsible for billing each student for the appropriate charges as well as crediting grants, loans, and payments to the student’s bill. An email from the Bursar's Office was sent to your student's Barnard email address to alert her to register for access to our Student Account Center (SAC). If you are a parent and want access to this site, ask your student to invite you to the site, and be sure to follow the instructions in the email invitation you will receive. We are not able to speak to anyone other than students concerning their student accounts without their specific authorization via SAC.

When your student receives her bill, you can review with your student both the charges and the payments being credited to insure the amount due is correct. There are a number of different payment options available to families who have a balance to pay. Families can make online payments or enroll in a monthly payment plan. If you have questions about your bill and to see payment options, visit Barnard College Bursar's Office.